EKU Online - eCasts

On this week's eCast episode we sit down with Dr. Michael Chen, Associate Professor and Interim Chair for EKU’s Department of Psychology to talk about the EKU’s largest program. Our conversation ranged from changes in the hospitality field, career opportunities, online teaching, and benefits of a hospitality degree. Join us!

On this week's eCast episode we sit down with Dr. Dan Kim, Assistant Professor for EKU’s Global Hospitality & Tourism Program to talk about the hospitality program and industry. Our conversation ranged from changes in the hospitality field, career opportunities, online teaching, and benefits of a hospitality degree. Join us!

On this week's eCast episode we sit down with Dr. George Ashley, Associate Professor and the Director of Field Education for the Master of Social Work Program to talk about what he calls “perhaps the most versatile degree you’ll ever find“. Our conversation ranged from field education, the concept of mental health and wellness, and the difference between psychology and social work. Join us!

On this week's eCast episode we sit down with Dr. Jeongwoo Kim, associate professor at EKU’s Department of Government to talk about this multi-faceted program.  Our conversation ranged from Kim’s background, changes in the field, online teaching, and advice to prospective students. Join us!

On this week's eCast episode we sit down with Dr. Nicola Mason, of EKU’s College of Education and Applied Human Sciences to talk about the field of education.  Our conversation ranged from Mason’s background, the challenges and benefits of online learning, and the evolving field of education. Join us!

On this week's eCast episode we sit down with Brittany Brown to talk about this multi-faceted and exciting program. She is currently the vice president for the New Mexico Fire Marshals Association and works as an adjunct instructor for the National Academy and the New Mexico Firefighters Training Academy. Our conversation ranged from Brown’s background in aviation and fire investigations, online teaching, and changes in fire investigations field, and her PhD Dissertation Topic. Join us!

On this week's eCast episode we sit down with Dr. McSpirit, foundation professor in the  Department of Language and Cultural Studies, Anthropology and Sociology to talk about the redesign of her social statistics class. Dr. McSpirit collaborated with Instructional Designer Mary Henson and Multimedia Producer Sam Williamson from EKU’s Instructional Design Center. Our conversation ranged from how the team collaborated on this redesign, the role of multimedia in the design process, what is social statistics, and what are some challenges with online courses.

On this week's eCast episode we sit down with Dr. Heather Tudor, Associate Professor and Health Services Administration Program Director to talk about this multi-faceted and exciting program. Our conversation ranges from the numerous applications of receiving a degree from the HSA program to the dynamic faculty and how they're able to overcome the challenges of online learning to deliver an impactful learning environment to tomorrow's healthcare administration professionals and graduates. Join us! 

On this week's eCast episode we sit down with Dr. Lynnette Noblitt, Department Chair and Professor of Government at Eastern Kentucky University. Dr. Noblitt is also the director of the paralegal program at EKU and shares some insight into this dynamic and exciting online program. Join us as we dive into what makes a good paralegal student, career options for graduates and how the field continues to evolve and grow for this multi-faceted profession."

"The  value of education is in using it to help others." On this week's  eCast, we sit down with Dr. Trish Isaacs, Associate Dean in the School  of Business and MBA Director. Now offering an MBA both on-campus and online, Dr.  Isaacs delves into the multi-faceted use and value of a Master of  Business Administration degree from EKU. Serving in her faculty,  administrative and directorial roles, Dr. Isaac's experience and insight provides a fascinating look into applicability,  responsibility and practicality of the MBA program and explains how EKU  is uniquely positioned to propel the next generation of business  students into a myriad of career opportunities.

On this week’s e-Cast we sit down with Dr. Nedim Slijepcevic, a faculty member in the new Masters of Science in Instructional Design Program. Our topics of discussion include the mission, work, and future of this program as well as Dr. Slijepcevic’s own teaching experiences in this particular discipline. Interesting  components of this discussion include the internship facet of the program as well as the overall future of instructional design. Please join us for an interesting and engaging interview.

On these week’s eCast we sit down with Dr. Dana Howell, Chair and Professor of the Department of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy. Dr. Howell is also the founding editor of the international Journal of Occupational Therapy Education. Our topics of discussion include strategies and challenges of engaging online students, the future of the profession and how hands-on learning is integrated into the asynchronous and online environment. Join us for an interesting and engaging conversation!

On this week's eCast episode we sit down with Dr. Todd McCardle, Associate Professor, Educational Leadership Doctoral Program Coordinator and Associate Chair: Department of Educational Leadership. Dr. McCardle wears many hats in his multiple responsibilities to EKU and his students and is a great example of how EKU faculty go above and beyond the traditional expectations of both in-person and online education. Join us as we touch on a variety of topics including strategies of engagement, the inadequacies of education for marginalized populations and lessons education can take away from Covid-19. 

On this week’s eCast we are joined by Michael Fore, assistant professor in Management at EKU and practicing attorney in Madison County Kentucky. We discuss a number of topics including ethics issues in business, the different approaches of both faculty and student to online education versus traditional classroom instruction, and the various demographics of students the program is attracting to prepare for both new and reinvigorated careers. Join us!

On this week’s eCast, our guests are Dr. Chad Foster, associate professor and coordinator of the Homeland Security Program in the College of Justice and Safety, and Ms. Mikah Hughes, instructional designer with EKU Online. Together, Foster & Hughes were the recipients of an international Blackboard award in the category of ‘exemplary course’ last year. Join us as we discuss the different modalities that go into innovative online course design, how to maximize student engagement and how EKU Online contributes to student success in the job market for this fascinating field.

On this week’s eCast our guest is Dr. Brooke Bentley, Professor and Chair of the School of Nursing. Dr. Bentley discusses the robust offerings of the Nursing Programs here at Eastern Kentucky University and how we are effectively preparing nurses for a highly demanding field. She also touches on 2020 and Covid-19 as ‘The Year of the Nurse’ and strategies of how nurses are dealing with the stress of being on the front lines as helping professionals. Join us for an engaging and interesting discussion.

Please  join us on this week’s eCast as we speak with our guest faculty, Dr.  Angela Wood, Clinical Faculty in the Family Nurse Practitioner program  in the College of Health Sciences. Listen as we learn more about her  work with hands-on clinical education in an online environment, her  involvement in winning an international Blackboard Catalyst Award, and  her views on the effect the pandemic has played in the rural health  family nurse practitioner program.

Please join us on this week’s eCast as we speak with our guest faculty, Dr. Laura Barthel, Assistant Professor of Accounting in the College of Business and Technology. Listen as we learn more about her effective online teaching practices, her jump from the private sector to higher education, and her views on the role the pandemic has played in the fields of accounting and entrepreneurship.

This week’s eCast guest is Dr. Jaime Henning, Professor and Coordinator of EKU’s Industrial-Organizational Psychology Master’s program. Please join us as we learn more about this captivating discipline, Dr. Henning’s research in online learning and remote work, and the effects that the pandemic may have on workplace performance and satisfaction.

Our guests on this week’s eCast are math professors Pat Coen and Mark Grogan along with instructional designer Mary Henson. They are co-recipients of the 2020 International Blackboard award for Teaching and Learning.  Join us as we learn of their efforts in turning around a math course from a 70% DFW rate to a 70% pass rate – an incredible accomplishment for a STEM discipline like math. They speak of the changes, technologically, pedagogically, and in its design that helped them achieve such results.  Please join us for a fascinating discussion

On this week’s eCast we sit down with Michael Hartman, adjunct professor in the Department of Computer Science, specializing in the area of game design. Mr. Hartman has over four decades of experience in game design, founded two studios and has published multiple titles throughout his career. An expert in game theory, gamification and e-Commerce, Michael gives us an overview of the exploding field of game design which has become a 125 billion dollar a year industry and also breaks down the Master’s in Computer Science at EKU along with the various concentrations and certificate options in this exciting field. Join us for a fascinating discussion!

As March is Social Work Month, on this week’s eCast we sit down with Dr. Caroline Reid of EKU’s Social Work Program. Dr. Reid shares how EKU is preparing the next generation of social workers in the face of many challenging issues including addictions, mental health problems, and the rampant opioid crisis.  Please join us for a timely and fascinating discussion about these and other relevant topics.

On this week’s eCast episode, we sit down with Dr. Siwei Gao, the Thomas and Rebecca Coffey Professor of Insurance Studies and Debbie Ellis, program coordinator of the RMI program. Known for excellence in teaching, Dr. Gao speaks to us on topics ranging from the RMI program to ways to mitigate insurance fraud, while Debbie shares with us the many outstanding opportunities available for students in the program.  Join us for an engaging look inside this exciting field.

On this week’s eCast episode, please join us as we speak with Dr. Michelle Gremp, Associate Professor in the College of Education. Serving in the roles of Coordinator of the Education of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Program and Special Education Graduate Coordinator, Dr. Gremp discusses a wide range of topics from her passion for teaching online to the somewhat negative cultural response of deaf and hard of hearing individuals.  Please join us for an engaging look at this unique and interesting discipline.

This week’s eCast episode features a conversation with Dr. Jennifer Fairchild, Professor of Communication at Eastern Kentucky University. Dr. Fairchild teaches both on campus and online and is also the program coordinator. Join us as we drill down into the versatility of a degree or certificate from the program, the effects of Covid-19 on how we communicate and the continuing research of Dr. Fairchild involving women’s narrative reconstruction post-miscarriage and the social support offered to women post-miscarriage.

On this week’s eCast episode, please join us as we speak with Dr. Beth Polin, Associate Professor in the Department of Management | Marketing & International Business in the College of Business and Technology. Known to be an outstanding instructor, Dr. Polin discusses a wide range of topics including teaching online creatively to the economic impact the pandemic has had on the United States. Please join us for an engaging look at the discipline of management.

On this week’s eCast episode, we sit down with Dr. Ryan Baggett, the Interim Dean of the EKU Graduate School and Professor in the Homeland Security program. Known for excellence in teaching both on-campus and online, Dr. Baggett discusses a wide range of topics from the various degrees offered from one of the leading and largest Homeland Security programs in the country to the recent events at the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021. Join us for a fascinating look inside this exciting field.

To kick off Season 2 of EKU Online's eCast series, we sit down with Professor Joshua Reichert from the Fire Protection & Safety Technology Engineering Program. Known for effective online student engagement, Professor Reichert expands upon the different degree programs within the highly regarded Fire and Safety Program at EKU and shares insight on strategies for connecting with students.

Please join us this week as we speak with Dr. Stephen Sumithran, associate professor in the department of biological sciences and online coordinator for the Associate’s and Bachelor’s degrees in General Studies. Known for his exceptional online teaching and long time work with e-Campus, Dr. Sumithran is also an avid adventurer and touches on his research in India, annual safari trips and his passion for nature.

On this week’s eCast episode we sit down with Dr. Rachael Hovermale from the College of Nursing. Coordinator of the Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner program, Dr. Hovermale is also a recipient of the 2020 International Blackboard Catalyst Award for excellence in course design. The PMHNP program is consistently ranked as a Top-50 best graduate Nursing program in the country according to US News and World Report. Listen as she discusses the program’s excellence and how mental health is finally coming to the forefront of discussions involving overall well-being.

On this week’s eCast, we sit down with Dr. James Kirby Easterling, Executive in Residence, to discuss Global Supply Chain Management. Eastern Kentucky University is proud to be preparing graduates for a globally integrated business economy and offering a comprehensive supply chain management program. Dr. Kirby discusses the Score Model and the how and why our students are so successful as graduates going into this exciting field.

On this week’s eCast our guest is Dr. Jim Fatzinger, a tenure-track faculty member in the College of Business and Technology. Dr. Fatzinger has a reputation among both students and colleagues as an exceptional instructor who makes it his mission to provide students with a dynamic and memorable learning experience. Join us as we discuss a variety of topics including management strategies, experiences in the online learning environment, student engagement and water polo.

On this week's eCast we sit down with Dr. Molly Bradshaw, an associate professor and Coordinator of the Doctor of Nursing Practice program at Eastern Kentucky University. Also a faculty innovator at EKU, Dr. Bradshaw shares her insights on how this dynamic program is helping the working, professional nurse prepare for the next stage of their career and what goes into development of this nationally ranked nursing program.

Please join us as we chat with Dr. Lisa Day, Director of Women and Gender Studies and Appalachian Studies here at EKU. Learn what makes these disciplines so important and relevant in today’s society and how cultural movements such as the #metoo campaign are making a positive lasting societal impact. And learn of the profound benefits of receiving a minor or certificate in either program.

In this week’s eCast, Professor James Pennington speaks with us about the highly recognized EKU Paralegal program. Offering Associate’s and Bachelor’s degrees along with a post-Baccalaureate certificate, all of these programs are approved by the American Bar Association. Join us as we delve into the inner workings of what a paralegal is and what a paralegal does and find out how EKU is uniquely preparing students for a future in the exciting field of the legal system.

In this episode, we speak with Dr. April Blakely, an award winning online instructor, and Online Coordinator for the College of Education here at EKU. Our discussion focuses on the current and future state of education in Kentucky. Known for her exceptional online teaching, Dr. Blakely also shares her thoughts and advice for teaching in this virtual modality.

Please join us as we chat with Assistant Professor David Fifer about the online Emergency Medical Care (EMC) program here at EKU. Learn what makes this baccalaureate program unique and highly recognized in the country. Also listen to some of the first-hand experiences Professor Fifer has had as a practicing paramedic both in the state and when deployed nationally.

In this episode, we speak with Dr. Shirley O’Brien, a University Foundation Professor, a Faculty Innovator, and Online Coordinator for the Occupational Therapy Doctorate (OTD) program here at EKU. Our discussion touches on the national excellence of the program, the role of an occupational therapist, and her extensive involvement with University governance. Known for her exceptional online teaching, Dr. O’Brien also shares her thoughts and advice for teaching in this modality.

Please join us this week as we speak to Drs. Joel Cormier, Wardell Johnson, and Heather Adams, all professors from the online Sport Management program. Not only do we explore different aspects of this relatively new online program, but we also discuss sports in light of the pandemic and cultural unrest that surround us today.

In this episode we chat with Dr. Dana Keller Bush, the chair of the Department of Applied Human Sciences at Eastern Kentucky University. Our discussion hits on a number of topics including programs in her department, the richness of the curriculum, her joy of teaching online and what parents can do during the pandemic to ensure the well-being of their children. In addition, she shares her thoughts about a new Global Hospitality and Tourism program coming soon to EKU.

In this episode, Instructional Designer Esther Tattershall chats with Dr. Myra Beth Bundy, a  professor in the department of Psychology at EKU. Dr. Bundy shares some strategies regarding her approach to online education, tips for self-care during the pandemic and insight into the field of Applied Behavior Analysis and how it can relate to a multitude of different businesses.